Are the Flames BETTER than they were in 2021-22?

[Lanny_McDonald]

I see the lineup should shake out based on talent and success.

Huberdeau-Lindholm-???
Mangiapane-Kadri-Toffoli
???-Backlund-Coleman
Lucic-Rooney-Lewis

The question marks are the issues IMO, especially on the top line. The players I suspect are possibly going to be earning a chance to play in those gaps are Dube and Pelletier. One of them will have to play their off wing and really step up to play on the big line. I don't think it's undoable as we've seen Huberdeau turn some really middling talents into capable scorers. Could Dube change wings are turn into Duclair? That's the question IMO. Who is going to end up playing on that top line to close that gap and who will ride shotgun with Backlund and Coleman? That will determine the efficacy of the team as a whole. If they can fill that gap internally, they're going to be a force. If they can't find a body that clicks and the first line struggles, we're going to be caught in the same cycle we've been stuck in for years - looking for that one body that will make the difference. I don't think the team can afford to go into the season with the question mark on that top line.

BTW, not excited with that 4th line. Have a feeling their going to get owned when they're on the ice.

[dustygoon]

On paper better. But that’s a lot of change that has to find chemistry quickly. Not easy

[bax]

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Rodrigues
Mangiapane - Kadri - Toffoli
Dube - Backlund - Coleman
Lucic - Rooney - Lewis

Ruzicka and Pelletier are first call ups. Rodrigues, Toffoli, and Coleman can be moved around based on chemistry.

Hanifin - Andersson
Weegar - Tanev
Kylington - Zadorov
Meloche

Markstrom
Vladar

I think that line up would be really tough to beat in a 7 game series.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

How is this any different in principle from a scorched-earth rebuild through the draft? That too is "betting a lot on a pretty small chance of success."


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There are, IMO, things between scorched earth and going all in. (Not that this is going all in yet.) Boston has good years and bad but doesn't need to do rebuilds, for example. They seem much better at picking when to bet and when to fold.

Wait one year and Monahan is at worst off the books, and we have an extra 1st. Is a 31-year old 2nd line center at 7x7M really such an urgent move right now, for a team that wasn't close last season?

It's one of the best 2nd line centers in the league, so... maybe? But I don't love it.

I don't hate it, because it feels like the franchise needed this mentally right now. We could really, really use a deep run, and this gives us a (IMO small) chance.

But I do think that shedding draft picks and making short term decisions to be "competitive" every year is the reason why the Flames never make it to contender status. We're constantly selling the future for now, and thus at every "now" we're starting from a position of relative weakness, so we need to sell the future again, and the cycle continues, resulting in perpetual mediocrity.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I think Mangiapane and Toffoli need to be on different lines. Both are shoot-first guys. I would like to see what Mangiapane can do with Huberdeau as his line mate. Could likely score 40G’s/60-70 points on that line. Same goes for Toffoli, a likely 30-30 guy with Huberdeau. Does anyone know who his best center/winger he’s ever played with?

[Heavy Jack]

With the Flames rolling 3 top 6 lines by the time the home opener is here I have no worries about the Lucic - Rooney - Lewis line which will also have Ruzicka taking reps through out the year. I still don’t think Treliving is done either, once Ruzicka is inked the Flames will have roughly a mill, maybe 750K in remaining cap. I think if they see an opportunity to sign someone like Milano, Rodrigues or Kessel on a 1 year low AAV if they’re wanting to reload their UFA status for next year then we’ll see Valimaki flipped to bring the cap space up to 2 to 2.5 mill depending.

With Kessel and his cup history in Pittsburgh, his history with Kadri and the fact that he put up 44 assists on a terrible Arizona team while only scoring 8 and shooting a career worse percentage I really am leaning towards a one year deal to add him into the middle 6.

Even if we don’t though I still think this team is better positioned with their lineup and depth throughout though it’s not a significant improvement it is a noticeable one, especially the top 4 D and the overall D group in general, which is huge. I still can’t believe how Treliving managed to pivot the way he has since July 12th, it’s remarkable really.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I think Mangiapane and Toffoli need to be on different lines. Both are shoot-first guys. I would like to see what Mangiapane can do with Huberdeau as his line mate. Could likely score 40G’s/60-70 points on that line. Same goes for Toffoli, a likely 30-30 guy with Huberdeau. Does anyone know who his best center/winger he’s ever played with?

Toffoli did well with Suzuki. His best year in LA he split time with Carter and Kopitar. Huberdeau had his monster year with Bennett but really, the best centre he had was Barkov.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Toffoli did well with Suzuki. His best year in LA he split time with Carter and Kopitar. Huberdeau had his monster year with Bennett but really, the best centre he had was Barkov.

I can see Toffoli and Mangiapane alternating the top RW spot. Mangiapane has clicked with Lindholm before when we experimented with the Tkachuk - Lindholm - Mangiapane line. But, Mangiapane is more reliable on driving offense than Toffoli, which would make more sense for Toffoli to get a crack at the 1st line before Mangiapane.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

I see the lineup should shake out based on talent and success.

Huberdeau-Lindholm-???
Mangiapane-Kadri-Toffoli
???-Backlund-Coleman
Lucic-Rooney-Lewis

This looks right to me. Similar to Bingo I start with pairs:
Huberdeau-Lindholm
Mang-Kadri
Backlund-Coleman

Then you start to fill it in. I think Toffoli will see duty at the top line as well. But ideally if you can find a trade where you swap a D for a F to fill that hole it makes a ton of sense. And while I'm not on the trade Hanifin band-wagon, he makes sense as the logical candidate if you want to bring in a similarly aged top 6 forward.

The third line spot I'm less concerned about. Audition Dube, Pelletier and others there. Based on Pelletier's AHL season and pro-style of game, I'd like to see him come to camp and grab that spot.

But likely you are going to have someone in the top 6 who isn't a true top 6 but rather the type of complimentary player that can still play well with good players. Few teams in the capped NHL don't have some sort of gap like that.

But if you can find that D for F swap, boy you have a line-up where there really isn't any material holes.

[Jiri Hrdina]

What do the PPs look like

I assume
PP1: Forwards (4): Huberdeau, Lindholm, Toffoli, Mang? D: Andersson
PP2: Forwards (4): Kadri, Backlund, Coleman, +one of Pelletier, Dube, etc. Maybe some time for Lucic in front of the net. D: Haninfin or Kylington? Or do you go 2 D on the 2nd unit with both Haninfin and Kylington there.

How is Weegar on the PP?

[Roof-Daddy]

Weegar hardly had any PP time in Florida, which is crazy because he had 44 points.

If the Flames plan on using him there, they should probably get him extended now before he ends up with a 50-60 point season under his belt.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

What do the PPs look like

I assume
PP1: Forwards (4): Huberdeau, Lindholm, Toffoli, Mang? D: Andersson
PP2: Forwards (4): Kadri, Backlund, Coleman, +one of Pelletier, Dube, etc. Maybe some time for Lucic in front of the net. D: Haninfin or Kylington? Or do you go 2 D on the 2nd unit with both Haninfin and Kylington there.

How is Weegar on the PP?

Weegar barely got any Pp time, here are his averages:

21-22 - 40 secs
20-21 - 25 secs
19-20 - 12 secs
18-19 - 17 secs
17-18 - 23 secs

Only has EIGHT power play points, seven of those from the last two seasons. Which means his 5v5 production is remarkable, and if he got 1:30-2 minutes I think we’re looking at a 50 point defenseman. This guy needs to be signed ASAP. I am fully convinced he’s the best D on this team.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I'm not too worried about getting signed. I suspect at this stage, they have the bones of a deal agreed, and are just working through the final details. All signals point to him signing here.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Weegar hardly had any PP time in Florida, which is crazy because he had 44 points.

If the Flames plan on using him there, they should probably get him extended now before he ends up with a 50-60 point season under his belt.

I don't think he is a very good option on the PP. There is a reason why he didn't play there in Florida.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Saqe

I don't think he is a very good option on the PP. There is a reason why he didn't play there in Florida.

What is that reason?

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[heep223]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What is that reason?

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Appeal to authority

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What is that reason?

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Because he isn't very good on it?

[McG]

When I look player for player, I can see why some went with “similar”.

Different players for me though means different team. I do think that this team is built for the playoffs better, and definitely tougher to play against. Will they freeform score like last season? Not sure.

Is that better? That’s how I voted. I think that both playoff series are better for the flames now than last season.

[djsFlames]

44 points with virtually no PP time/points tacked on is quite impressive.

[ricardodw]

Huberdeau's PP over the past 4 seasons outscored Gaudreau's PP .76 goal/game to .62 gpg

.14 goals a game or 11.5 goals over the season.